Sleigh.



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- L. NORMAN.

SLEIGH.

APPLIGATION FILED 1111111 11, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 779,303. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. L. NORMAN,

SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mmroz Mmm/x A4 @4% y@ Mv@ UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,303, dated January 3. 1905;

Application filed June l1, 1904. Serial No. 212,100.

T alZZ whom. t 717/047/ cfm/cern:

Be it known thatLLIpNEL NoRMAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in sleighs.

One object of the invention is to produce improved means for propelling sleighs or other vehicles actuated by a motor carried by the vehicle.

Further objects of the-invention will be apparent from the description of the illustrated embodiment thereof.

To the above ends the invention consists in the sleigh hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred form of the invention, Figure lis a side elevation of asleigh with part of the body removed to reveal the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sleigh with the upper part of the body removed to show the mechanism.` Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the pushers and a part of'its actuating mechanism seen in the opposite direction from Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the oscillating lever supporting the pusher. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the reversing-lever and its connections. Fig. 7 is a fr ont elevation, partly in section, of the reversing mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detail View of the stop-controlling mechanism.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is constructed as follows:

The propelling mechanism and the motor for actuating the same are contained principally within the body l of the sleigh. The propelling mechanism comprises pushers 2, which are actuated by suitable connections with a motor 3, which is not particularly shown` as it may be of any suitable or usual form. The pushers are actuated by a mechanism adapted to impart to them both a substantially horizontal movement, hereinafter referred to as reciprocation, and a vertical or lifting movement. The reciprocating mechanism and the lifting mechanism are geared together to operate in such time relation that during strokes in one direction the pushers are held against the road-surface and caused to grip the same, so as to propel the vehicle, and during strokes in the opposite direction the pushers are raised clear from the road-surface,so as to make idle return strokes. Three pushers are used, so that one may be always in driving contact with the road-surface, and in order that the pressure with which the pushers are forced against the road-surface may be varied according to the condition of such surface the body of the sleigh is supported entirely independently of the pushers by means of runners 4, so that the pushers serve merely to propel the vehicle. Springs are interposed in the mechanism by which the pushers are supported and actuated, so that the 'pushers may yield to some extent to the irregularities of the road-surface and bear with a substantially even pressure thereagainst. Means are provided for raising the pusher actuating and supporting mechanism at the will of the operator, so as to maintain the pushers clear of the road-surface during their entire cycle of operation, so that the driving of the sleigh may be interrupted at will by the operator without stopping the motor or disconnecting any part of the mechanism. The same raising means serve also to adjust during the operation of the pushers the pressure with which they are forced against the road-surface, according as that surface is smooth and hard or soft and irregular.

The mechanism for performing the abovedescribed functions is described in detail as follows:

The pushers 2 are pivotally connected at with oscillating levers 6, which are actuated by connecting-rods 7, connected with cranks 8, secured to a driving-shaft 9, which is rotated by a chain-and-sprocket connection with the motor. By these means the reciprocating motion is imparted to the pushers 2. The upper ends of the levers 6 have sliding pivots lO, working in the slotted ends Il of the raising-levers 12, fulcrumed upon a shaft 13. A spring 14 is interposed between a fixed collar IOO 15 on each lever 6 and the end of the corresponding raising-lever 12 to permit the pusher to yield to the road-surface. Since the normal motion of each lever 6 about its pivot 10 tends to move the pusher 2 in an arc of a circle, the pressure of the pusher against the road-surface will be greatest on and near the middle of its reciprocation, which is desirable, owing to the fact that the pusher is moving fastest at this time, owing to the position of its driving-crank 8, and this is therefore the time at which the pusher tends most strongly to drive the vehicle. During the earlier-and later parts of the driving stroke of the pusher its motion may be slower than the relative motion of the vehicle on the road-surface. Means are provided, therefore, for permitting the pusher to yield to the road-surface at such times, and to this end each pusher is connected to the corresponding lever 6 by a pivotal connection 5. rlhe movement of the pusher about such connection is limited by stops which act to prevent its swinging in one direction or the other about the pivot, according as the sleigh is going forward or backward. The pusher hasa central serrated portion adapted to grip the road-surface firmly and terminal smooth portions which pass freely over such surface. Stops 16, sliding on suitable guides on the lever 6, are connected with the pusher by links 17, and dogs 18 are pivotally connected to the lever 6 on either side and arranged to engage one or the other of the stops 16. When the sleigh is to be driven forward, the dogs are moved to engage the forward stop, as shown in Fig. 1. This prevents the pusher from swinging forward about its pivot 5 and maintains the serrated portion of the pusher in contact with the road-surface so long as the pusher is moving as fast as the road-surface; but when the pusher is moving slower than the road-surface, owing to its retarded motion near the ends of its stroke or when the vehicle is coasting down a hill, the pusher will swing back about the pivot 5, thereby bringing its smooth forward portion only in contact with the roadsurface and offering no substantial resistance to the movement of the vehicle.

The raising mechanism for automatically raising the pushers clear of the road-surface during their return strokes is constructed as follows: The forward portions of the raising'- levers 12 carry cam-rolls 19, engaging cams 20, rotated by a shaft 21, journaled in the.

frame of the sleigh. The shaft 21 is geared by chain-and-sprocket connections with the shaft 9, so as to rotate in unison therewith, and the cams 2O aie shaped to raise the latter ends 11 of the levers 12 once during each rotation of the cam -shaft and to hold them raised during at least half a rotation, thereby holding the levers 6 and pushers 2 in raised position. The cranks 8 on the driving-shaft are arranged at angles of one hundred and twenty degrees, so as to cause the pushers to act in regular succession, and the cams 2() are therefore arranged in the same angular position, so that each may raise the pusher connected therewith at the appropriate time.

The means for reversing the direction of the motion of the sleigh are arranged to change the relative time of action of the raising mechanism and the reciprocating mechanism, so as to cause the pushers to be raised from the road-surface during either their forward or their backward reciprocations, according as the sleigh is to be driven forward or backward. The cam-shaft 21 carries a sprocket 22, which is free to rotate thereon, but is prevented from longitudinal motion by a collar 23 on the shaft. The ysprocket 22 is connected by a chain 24 with a sprocket fixed to the driving-shaft 9. Fixed to either side of the sprocket 22 are clutch members 25 and 26. A

hub 27 is carried by the shaft 21 and is connected therewith by a key-and-slot connection 28, so as to rotate therewith, but be free to move longitudinally thereon. The hub 27 carries clutch members 29 and 30. A beveled gear 31 is loosely journaled on the shaft 21, but prevented from longitudinal motion thereon, and carries a clutch member 32, arranged to engage the clutch member 30. A clutch member 33,carried by shaft 21,is loosely mounted to move longitudinally with respect to the shaft. A shipper 34 is secured to the clutch member 33, so as to prevent rotation thereof, and a fork 35, attached to the shipper, embraces a slot in the hub 27, so as to be capable of moving the same longitudinally. The gear 31 is engaged by a pinion 36, fixed to a shaft 37, journaled at 38 in the body of the vehicle. The shaft is connected by a keyand-groove connection 39 with a hollow shaft 40, bearing on its upper end a hand-lever 41, by which the hollow shaft 40 may be either rotated or depressed. A collar 42, journaled on the shaft 40, is prevented by collars 43, fixed to the shaft, from longitudinal motion in respect thereto. To the collar 42 is pivotally connected a toggle 44, pivoted at its lower extremity toA the journal 38. The central pivot 45 of the toggle engages a slot in the shipper 34. A spring 46 tends to maintain the hollow shaft 40 in its normal raised position, and a catch 47 on the hand-lever 41 normally eng'ages a notch 48 in a circular guide 49, secured to the body of the sleigh by means of a sleeve 50, which serves also as an upper journal for the hollow shaft 40. With the parts in their normal position, as shown in the drawings, the clutch members are disengaged. As the sprocket 22 is connected by chain 24 with the driving-shaft 9, it rotates in unison therewith and through the clutch members 26 and 29 rotates the hub 27, which in turn rotates the cam-shaft 21, thereby causing the lifting movements of the pushers to take place at the proper time.

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When it is desired to reverse the driving of the vehicle, the motor is stopped or disconnected from the driving-shaft 9 by suitable mechanism. The hand-lever 41 is then depressed by the operator sol as to disengage the catch 47 and the notch 48. The depression of the hand-lever depresses the hollow shaft 4() and through the toggle 44 moves the shipper to the right of the position shown in Fig. 7, thereby moving the hub 27 and the clutch member 33 tothe right along the shaft 21.` The clutch members 33 and 25 are thereby caused to engage, and as the clutch member 33 is prevented by its connection with the shipper from rotation the main driving-shaft is by these means prevented from any accidental rotationA during the reversing operation. The clutch members 26 and 29 are disengaged, and the clutch members 3() and 32 are engaged. The operator now gives a complete rotation to the hand-lever 41. Since the pinion 36 is one-half the size of the gear 31, a half-rotation is imparted to the latter, and through the medium of the hub 27 the shaft 21 is thereby given a half-rotation with respect to the driving-shaft 9, so that the time relation of the operation of the raisingclutches and the reciprocating mechanism is thereby reversed. As soon as the revolution of hand-lever 41 is completedthe catch 47 again engages the notch 48, the spring 46 raises the hollow shaft 40, and the parts are again returned to the position shown in Fig. 7. When the actuation of the driving-shaft 9 is again resumed, the vehicle will be driven in the opposite direction from that in which it was driven before the above-described operations. Y

In reversing the driving mechanism it is necessary to reverse the operation of the stops 16 at the same time, and this is accomplished by automatic mechanism for shifting the dogs 18 so as to engage the latter stops when the sleigh is to be driven backward. Each dog 18 is connected, by means of an arm 51 and a link 52, with a bell-crank lever 53, pivoted at 10. Fixed to the shaft 13 are eccentrics 54, embraced by eccentric-straps 55, secured to arms 56, which have forked ends 57 embracing the cam shaft 21. Upward extensions 58 from the eccentric-straps 55 carry pivoted blocks 59. Connectingrods 60, pivoted to the bell-crank levers 53, engage openings in the blocks 59 and normally slide freely therein to accommodate themselves to the relative motions of the lever 6 and thel raising-lever 12 without changing the position of the dogs 18. To prevent accidental displacement of the dogs, each lever 6 carries a spring 87, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) secured in a depression in the lever and arranged to engage frictionally the inner side of one of the dogs. Each of the extensions 58 carries a sliding latch 61, arranged to engage depressions 62 in the corresponding connecting-rod 60, and the latches are actuated by latch-levers 63, pivotally connected with a link 64, which is supported in its position of rest'by forks 65, secured to the eccentricstraps 55. The link 64 is connected by a plate 66, engaged between collars 67, with the clutch member 33, so that when the latter is moved longitudinally of the shaft 21 the link 64 will be moved to the right of its position, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the latches 61 will engage the depressions 62 in the connectingrod 60. A sprocket 68, secured to the gear 31, is connected by a chain and sprocket with the shaft 13'. During the reversal of the mechanism-when the shipper 34 moves the clutch member 33 and the hub 27 to the right, referring to Fig. 7, the latches 61 engage the connecting-rods 6() in the above-described manner, and upon the subsequent rotation of gear 31 and sprocket 68 the shaft 13 hasimparted to it by the described connections a half-rotation. rlhe arms 56 and members 58 are thereby moved to the left of their position shown in Fig. 3, and through the connections above described the dogs 18 are thereby swung to their latter positions, so as to engage the latter of the stops 16 and to prevent the pushers 2 from swinging backward about the pivots 5 during the reverse strokes of the pushers.

rl`he means for raising the propelling mechanism at the will of the operator entirely clearof the road-surface is constructed as follows: The shaft 13 is journaled on bell-crank levers 69, which are loosely journaled on the shaft 21. The levers 69 are connected by a forked connecting-rod 70 with an arm 71 on .a rock-shaft 72, journaled in the frame of the sleigh. The rock-shaft 72 carries at its outer end an arm 73, pivotally connected with a hand-lever 74, which is pivoted at to the body of the vehicle. A latch 76, engaging a sector 77, maintains the hand-lever in any desired position. Then the hand-leveris drawn backward from the position shown in Fig. 1, the bell-crank levers are swung by the abovedescribed connections, so as to raise the shaft 13, thereby swinging the raising-levers 12 upward from their normal position and' raising and holding the pushers clear of the road -surface during their actuation. By a partial movement of the hand-lever 74 the position IOO of the raising-levers 12 may be changed suffiy ciently to modify the pressure with which the pushers are held against the road-surface without raising them clear therefrom. The connecting-rod 70 is made adjustable in length by a turnbuckle 88, so that the vertical position of the propelling mechanism for any fixed position of the hand-lever may be adjusted.

The sleigh is provided with a brake comprising two brake-shoes 78, pivotally connected with arms 79, journaled in the frame of the vehicle and actuated by suitable connection with a pedal 80. When the pedal is depressed by the operator, the brake-shoes are forced against the road-surface.

Springs 9() are interposed between the runners A and the body of the sleigh. These serve not only the ordinary function of absorbing shocks, owing to the inequalities of the roadsurface, but they are more particularly useful in permitting such relative movement of the body of the sleigh and the runners as is necessary to maintain an even contact between the pushers and the road-surface. If one of the runners encounters a depression, the spring by which that runner is connected with the body of the sleigh will yield, while the posi-- .tion of the body with respect to the road-surface and the pressure of the pushers theren against will be substantially unaffected, owing to the fact that each runner is independently connected to the body.

The forward runners are connected with their springs by pivots 89, so that they may be swiveled to steer the vehicle. A connecting-rod 81, pivotally secured at 82 to the latter extremity of each steering-runner, is actuated by a pin-and-slot connection 83 with an arm 84, fixed to a vertical shaft 85, actuated by a steering-lever 86.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a sleigh, it is obvious that in its broadest aspects it is not limited thereto, as the novel form of propelling mechanism may be used in connection with wheeled vehicles, and the invention is not, therefore, limited to vehicles supported on runners. The term pushers as used in the specification and claims is intended to denote any device adapted to exert a tractive effort on the road-surface to propel the vehicle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, means for reciprocating the pusher, and means for raising the pusher during alternate strokes, act ing to render either the backward strokes or the forward strokes of the pusher inoperative at the will of the operator, according as the sleigh is to be driven forward or backward.

2. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, a support for the pusher, pivotal connection between the pusher and the support acting to permit the pusher to swing and to yield to the roadsurface, stops to limit the swinging of the pusher in either direction, and means for rendering one or the other of the stops operative according as the sleigh is to be driven forward or backward.

3. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, a support for the pusher, pivotal connection between the pusher and the support, and a stop to limit the movement in one direction of the pusher about such pivotal connection, the pusher having a central serrated face and smooth termin al faces arranged at an angle therewith.

4. A sleigh, having, in combination, a body, a pusher engaging the road-surface, and runners for supporting the body having independent spring connections therewith so as to yield independently to variations in the roadsurface without interfering with the operation of the pushing device.

5. A sleigh, having, in combination, a body, pushers engaging the road-surface with spring-pressure, runners supporting the body independently of the pushers, and independent spring connections between the body and each of the runners.

6. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, an oscillating lever to which the pusher is secured, means for oscillating the lever, and means for periodically raising and lowering the center of oscillation of the lever to cause the pusher to engage the road-surface during strokes in one direction only.

7. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, mechanism for actuating the pusher comprising reciprocating mechanism and raising mechanism acting in timed relation to cause the pusher to engage the road-surface during strokes in one direction only, and means under the control of the operator for changing' the time relation of operation of the reciprocating mechanism and the raising mechanism to reverse the direction of operation of the pusher.

8. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, a support for the pusher, a pivotal connection between the pusher and the support acting to permit the pusher to yield to the road-surface, stops for limiting the motion of the pusher in either direction about its pivotal connection with the support, means for actuating the support to reciprocate the pusher, and means under the control of the operator for throwing one stop out of and the other into operation according' as the sleigh is to be driven forward or backward.

9. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, a support for the pusher, a pivotal connection between the pusher and the support, stops for limiting the motion of the pusher in either direction about its pivotal connection, mechanism forA actuating the support and the pusher comprising reciprocating mechanism and raising mechanism acting in timed relation to cause the pusher-s to engage the road-surface during strokes in one direction only, and means under control of the operator for simultaneously throwing one stop into and the other out of operation, and changing the time relation of operation of the reciprocating mechanism and the raising mechanism, to reverse the direction of operation of the pushers.

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A10. A sleigh, having, in combination, a pusher engaging the road-surface, mechanism for reciprocating the pusher, mechanism for raising the pusher, a shaft for actuating the reciprocating mechanism, a shaft for actuating the raising mechanism, connections between the shafts to cause them to rotate in timed relation, and means Linder control of the operator for imparting relative rotation to the shafts to change the relative times of operation of the reciprocating mechanism and the lifting mechanism according as the sleigh is to be driven forward or backward.

l1. A sleigh, having, in combination, a body, pushers engaging the road-surface, runners supporting' the body independently of the pushers, means for actuating the pushers, and means under control of the operator for raising the pushers and holding' them clear of the road-surface comprising a hand-operated member, means for fixing it in adjusted positions, and adjustable connections between the hand-operated member and the pushers.

In testimony whereof l aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LIONEL NORMAN.

Witnesses:

FARNUM F. DoRsEY, ALFRED H. HILDRETH. 

